A “berry” isn’t always a berry…
1/2500/ f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Last year at this time when berries of all local varieties were far more abundant than they are this year I photographed quite a few songbird species feeding on them. Back then I posted a short series of photos of this female Lazuli Bunting to demonstrate her feeding technique as she feasted on serviceberries that were too large for her to swallow whole but I left this one out because other photos documented that technique better. But aesthetically this may be my favorite shot of the bunch so I wanted to post it sometime. This is that sometime.
Of course females of the species are far less colorful and flashy than males but I still like her subtle colors, the setting with the berries, the light on the bird, the background and her determination to get at the juicy meat of the berry that she can’t swallow whole. She succeeded too but it was a challenge for her to get through the tough skin of a wobbly berry hanging from a flexible stalk.
This time of year I see a variety of critters feeding on berries of various colors including red, blue, purple, black and even green berries that haven’t yet ripened. And to be honest I’m not very good at identifying what type they are, in part because I’m a rank amateur when it comes to field botany.
So sometimes I can be fooled into thinking some food item is a berry when it isn’t.
That’s what happened a couple of days ago with this chipmunk. He had a small stash of what through my lens I initially thought were berries on top of the post and stored in his cheek pouches. The “berries” were large and small and red or green but this one still had long sepals attached so after I got home and looked at my photos it became obvious even to me that they were rose hips instead of berries (which confirmed what Mia told me they were in the field).
A variety of birds, squirrels, rabbits, bears and wild game feed on rose hips and many humans find them delicious, tasting like a cross between tart apples, plums and rose petals. They’re also rich in vitamin C but beware, when humans eat their hairy inner seeds they can seriously irritate our intestines.
You can rest assured that I won’t be eating rose hips anytime soon because apparently I can’t even distinguish them from berries.
To both paraphrase and bastardize Gertrude Stein, “A berry is a berry isn’t necessarily a berry.” It may be a rose hip…
Ron
An update on my planned meeting with Erin Holmes: Yesterday I said that Erin, the new manager at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, had invited me to sit down with her and discuss some of the concerns and questions I have about recent management decisions at the refuge and I mentioned that I hoped to meet with her today. But because of scheduling conflicts that meeting won’t occur until tomorrow morning. I hope to report back to my readers about what I learn in that meeting in Friday’s post.
I look forward to meeting with Erin. She seems like a genuinely nice and accommodating person and I’m sure she’s a go-getter. Besides I’m delighted that the new manager of one of our premier National Wildlife Refuges is a woman. And it made me smile that part of her official email signature includes this, apparently to avoid any confusion about it: “Erin Holmes (she/her)”
I enjoyed your images and interpretation. Hope your meeting is productive and informative. Science, conservation and wild lands are taking a hit right now and she probably must walk a fine line.
“she probably must walk a fine line”
I had the same thought, Ken. She’s likely in a very difficult position and I don’t want to add to her pressures. My goal is more to find out what’s going on and why than it is to influence their management practices.
Great photos! I love the praying chipmunk pose. Is that anthropomorphizing?
“Is that anthropomorphizing?”
I’m far less concerned about anthropomorphizing than I used to be, Art (for a variety of reasons). In that particular case (praying) I’m sure it is if you take it literally but no reasonable person would… so no big deal. That’s where many of our minds go in situations like this so if you ask me we might as well enjoy it. And you did ask me… 🙂
Both are excellent shots. Looks like the Chipmunk is having a prayer before his/her meal.
I wondered if someone would mention that “prayer”, Jean. The same thing entered my mind.
Enchanting combination of dining animals; looks like each one has a whole meal in front of them. I had to look up the technical terms for serviceberry (pome) and rosehip (accessory fruit); berries and hips I can readily understand and will do for me.
I’ll stick with berries and hips too. Thanks, Lyle.
I never thought i’d fall in love with a chipmunk…thank you for sharing the photo (as always).
I’m glad you like it, Elmer. Thanks.
Wonderful “berry” shots! 😉 I love the bunting shot for all the reasons you stated and the chipper for the lichen colors that complement his coat and the rosehip. I’m with EC in feeling good about my “berry” (or not two berries) ID this morning. Hips also make good tea.
Good luck tomorrow. I hope this old cynic will be pleasantly surprised by your report on Friday.
It’s amazing how many ways folks use rose hips, Marty. Hell they even make soup out of it!
I do like her subtle beauty. And for a change felt knowledgeable because I did recognise that berry as a hip. They make good jam.
Good luck with your meeting with Erin. I am really looking forward to the report. Hooray for accessible people in charge.
“Hooray for accessible people in charge”
My thoughts exactly, EC. Pretty rare in my experience. She did tell me it was her intention to be “transparent” about her plans for the refuge so I’m thinking that’s really the case.
Grand picture of this gal. 🙂
Thanks, Arwen.
I had to look up what the Lazuli male looked like…not a visiter here. Quite beautiful, more so than our Indigo bunting in fact. The females are rather similar but I do think the Lazuli is more striking with that cinnamon upper breast. 😍 We are soon entering into my favorite season…autumn when nature’s bounty usually gives sufficient food for all. I enjoy watching the gathering process of the chipmunks and squirrels. There is a small red Squirrel I’ve named ‘Lil Red’ who has been around for a few years…a feisty little one who chase all other squirrel even the large fox and grays away. He must have a warehouse of sunnies and peanuts in the shell stored. I’ve watched him make as many as 20+ trips in the mornings taking peanuts…varying his route when he leaves the ring each time. Yup…nice to be retired and be able to sit and watch nature! 😂
Kathy, we have lots of Lazulis around here but I rarely get any shots of them, especially the males.
“Nice to be retired” – ya think! 🙂
Beautiful shot of the female Lazuli Bunting – definitely a contrast to the males! We have a lot of wild roses here so I’m familiar with the rose hip even tho I don’t partake! 😉 You’d said “Thursday” somewhere in your post yesterday for the meeting with Erin. Looking forward to the results of that… 🙂
Thanks, Judy. In yesterday’s post I said I hoped to meet with her Wednesday but you’re right, I did say Thursday in a much later comment. But I was afraid many readers wouldn’t see that comment.
Great shots Ron, we are where you were last year, abundant berries.
I agree with Joanne, even though I’m not from your area, much interested in what the new manager has to say. Looking forward to your comments.
I’m really curious about it too, Dick. I have a litany of questions I’ve wanted to ask for a very long time.
Lovely photos once again! I’m very interested in reading your future post about your meeting with Ms. Holmes. I often have questions about certain practices in the parks that I frequent, but never get a chance to ask them to anyone in charge.
Thanks, Joanne. Those folks “in charge” can be very difficult to find or even contact and when you talk to those with less authority you often get less than accurate information so I know exactly what you mean.